Food Lion is an American grocery retail company, founded in 1957, with over 1,100 locations across 10 states in the USA. Initially named Food Town, the brand changed its name to Food Lion in 1983 due to a conflict with other retail chains using the same name. Today, it remains a major player in the grocery industry.

Meaning and History

Food Lion was founded by Wilson Smith, and Ralph and Brown Ketner in 1957, with the first store opening in North Carolina. The company remained privately owned until its acquisition by the European Delhaize Group in 1974. The company transitioned from Food Town to Food Lion in 1983, marking the beginning of its expansive growth across the southeastern U.S. Today, it operates in states like North and South Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Georgia.

The company’s visual identity has remained loyal to the design created in 1983, and the brand’s mascot, George the Food Lion, was introduced with the logo. The emblem, based on a heraldic-style lion and uppercase lettering, has undergone minimal changes since then.

Logo Evolution

1957 – 1983
The first logo for Food Town featured a square badge in yellow and blue. The blue trapezoid was outlined in white, with the brand name in bold white uppercase sans-serif font, primarily on the blue part of the badge, but with the "F" extending into the yellow section.

1983 – 2007
After rebranding to Food Lion in 1983, the company introduced a sharp lion image as its emblem. This symbol represented strength and stability. The company’s visual identity remained consistent until 2007, when the logo received a slight redesign, focusing on a more modern and approachable look.

2007 – 2014
In 2007, the color palette of the logo shifted, with the lion’s image, George the Food Lion, appearing in a calm blue shade on a white background. The wordmark remained bold and in uppercase, but the square outline softened.

2014 – Present
The logo evolved again in 2014, with the lion positioned above the wordmark in a simplified and more confident design. The lion is black with a bold, curved tail pointing right, representing strength and progress. The black and blue color palette gives the brand a modern, forward-looking identity.